Marlborough plays host to Romeo Bragato ConferenceDEREK FLYNN/FAIRFAX NZ Pernod Ricard grower liaison Brenton O'Riley competes in the hortisports race as part of the Young Viticulturist of the Year competition at Villa Maria. Domestic and international wine experts will gather in Marlborough on Wednesday for the most important conference in the New Zealand wine industry calender. Hotels and motels in Blenheim have experienced a shoulder season windfall from the conference, with both the Scenic Hotel Marlborough and Chateau Marlborough reporting full occupancy rates. Wine Marlborough chairman Clive Jones said meeting colleagues from around the country could be as valuable for learning as the topics presented at the conference. The winners of the Bayer Young Viticulturist of the Year and Tonnellerie de Mercurey​ New Zealand Young Winemaker of the Year would be announced at the conference on Thursday evening.

Source: Stuff August 23, 2016 04:41 UTC